Massaging apparatus or the like



Janf25, 1949. D, V, SUMMERVILLE 2,460,245

MASSAGING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE Filed May 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l wwwI llfllllllllllllllllllll ATTORNEYS Jan- 25, 1949- D. v. sUMMERvlLLE2,460,245

MASSAGING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE Filed May 2 6, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 3332 jig. 5,

|||||l u xl INVENTOR Wanda zz//f//zc/w/e,

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 25, 1949 MAssAcrNcArrARA'rUs on THE LIKE DonaldV. Summerville, Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Aeromat ProductsCompany,

Inc., Buifalo, N. Y.

Application May '26, 1945, serial No. 595,929

8 Claims. (C1. 12S-33) l -This invention relates to massage apparatuslor devices for producing pulsating or intermittent surface pressureeffects on the human body or anatomy for the relief or muscular pains orfatigue. While the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed includesan element in the form of a pneumatic cushion or seat pad especially` vadapted for massaging or treating one or another affected portion of thebody to re-establish circulation, innervation and general reduction offatigue in the affected regions. When a person sits without change ofposition for a considerable period of time, he or ,she develops what isknown as compression pain or fatigue of the gluteal or buttock muscles.This is caused by the weight of the torso affecting these muscles andthereby restricting arterial and venous circulation and impeding nerveimpulse or function within this area. This is a true fatigue withagonizing symptoms under certain conditions, as in the case ofan'aeronaut who Aoften has to maintain substantially the same crampedsitting position over long periods of time.

A particular purpose cf my Ainvention is the provision of a seat` pad,cushionV or parachute pack seat for useby aeronauts and airplanepassengers, or a seat pad for drivers of motor vehicles or other personsrequired to occupy sitting positions for extended periods of time, whichwill afford a mostv practical means for relieving such fatigue ordistress by massaging such muscles or areas of the body during the timethat the person is required -to maintain the sitting posture. However,pads, mats, sacks or the like embodying the invention also providepractical means for relief in other cases, such as bed-ridden caseswhereconstant or protracted i prone positions of a patient predisposes tocompression fatigue and discomfort, which are the forerunners of thecommon bed sores, and for effectively treating or massaging of personsaficted with poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis to enhance to agreater degree their useful recovery, it being recognized that massagetreatment is very beneficial in such cases.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device whichwill be especially efiicient for body treatment purposes such as before'mentioned.

' Otherv objects of the Vinvention are to provide a device in thenatureof a pneumatic cushion, mat or" the like having vfluid pressure-conningcells in which the fluid'pressure'is controlled or 2 alternately appliedand relieved so as to produce a pulsating action of walls of the cellsfor the treatment of the body; also to provide a novel device which willproduce a bodily massaging or kneading effect more nearly likethatproduced by hand massaging; also to provide a massaging device in thenature of a pad, sack or the like having plural flexible walled cellsand means for producing pulsating uid pressures therein so as to effectpressure increases and decreases alternately in adjacent cells; also toprovide such a device with means for admitting iiuid pressure to saidadjacent cells alternately and relieving the pressure in one cell whilethe pressure is increasing in the adjacent cell so as to subject onearea of the body to pressure While relieving pressure on an immediatelyadjourning area; also to provide an improved massaging device by meansof which the body can be subjected to pulsating or intermittentpressures of variable effect, as desired. Y

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing specification of the preferred embodiment of the inventionshown in the accompanying drawings, and the novel features of theinvention are set forth in the appended claims.

vIn said drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional elevational view of an apparatus embodying theinvention, showing the cushion' pad or mat element thereof in horizontalsection on line 2-2, Fig. 2. e

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical section of the pad element. f

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional elevation of the iiuidpressure controlor valve mechanism, and showing the valve elements in position to admitfluid pressure to the inner pad cell.

Fignl is a horizontal, sectional view of the control or valve mechanismon line li-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view of the control or valve mechanismon line 5 5, Fig. 3.

. Fig. 6 is an enlarged, transverse sectional elevation online Fig. 3, e

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the quick detachable connectionfor the pressure tubes with the seat pad.

Fig. 8 is a section of the quick-detachable coupling on line Fig. 7. Y

The pad, cushion or mat element I ilV may be of generally rectangular,relatively broad and flat or shallow shape and may be formed of spongeor air cell rubber or other suitable soft and pliable or resilientcushioning material Il which surrounds or-covers a relatively thin orshallow bag or sack l2, preferably made of rubber or analogous flexible,elastic material adapted to form fluid-tight chambers or cells. Asshown, the bag or sack I2 is formed so as to provde cells i3 and I4 ofU-shape in plan arranged site side partitions of the U-shaped partitionI5 which separates the two cells. The pad or cushion may be providedwith an outer cloth or the like protecting cover'or bag I1. V

This pad or cushion, which, as illustrated in the drawings, is made ofsuitable plan dimensions to provide a seat cushion for a normal-sizedperson, 'thus has therein relatively shallow, adjacent-inner and outerfluid pressure cells I3 and I4 having back portions I3 andY Illa thatextend crossvvise beneath the rear portion of the buttocks of a personsitting on the pad, and connecting side portions that :extend forwardlyYfrom said connecting rear portions, With the side portions ofthe outerand inner cellsv'extending respectively be'neath'th'e uter innerportions of the gluteal. muscle areas -of the sitters legs. I pressureis admitted to and exhausted o rvrelieve'd from the p'ad cells i3 andVvIll respectively through suitable tubes orY conduits 2li and 2|. Theconduit v2li connects with or is formed with a loop-shaped tube 22'extending Within and through the side and back connecting portions Vofthe inner oeil "I3,V andthe other conduit 2l connects with or is formedwith a similar loopshaped tube 23 extending within and through the side`land connecting back portions 'of the outer 'cell I4. lThese loop tubesmay beflexible tubes provided substantially throughoutthe lengths ofthe'portions thereof withinthe cells with perforations 24 in their sidesthrough which pressure fluid can enter and leave the cells, to therebymore uniformly distribute the V'ac'l'rnissio'n-'and'ex- CSi haust of thepressure throughout the cells, and

prevent the possibility of interruption in the delivery 'o'r dischargef, ,the pressure iluid to or from the cells, as might happenin the useof a single inlet and exit hole, by the collapsing of the pad cells ator near the hole under the Weight ofthe person sitting onthe pad.

Air or fluid under pressure is delivered to and exhausted from the padcells I3 a`nd I4 by suitable means which preferably admits and 'exhaustsor relieves pressure fluidv to and from the adjacent orinner and outercells alternately, and in such a Way that While pressure is building upin one cell to inflate said cell, pressure Will be exhausting orrelieved from the adjacent cell to deilate it, thus producing analternating pulsating action of the adjacent cells. For this purpose,-in the embodiment of Ythe invention illustrated, a valve or controlmechanism 25 is providedl to which the air or fluid is supplied undersuitable pressure from a supply source, and which control mechanismadmits the pressure fluid to and exhausts or relieves it from theadjacent cells I3 and I4 alternately, as above stated. This valveorcontrol mechanism V25, as shown, is constructed as follows:

26 represents the casing of the device which `is formed in its oppositeends with actuator or pressure chambers 21 and `21a, and also with twovalve 'chambers 28 and 28a between which is an exhaustchamber2'8bopening to the atmosphere. Valve chamber28 connects, as by apassage 29,

with the actuator chamber 21, and the valve chamber 28a connects, as byla passage 29a, with the actuator chamber 21a. 'Said valve chamberscommunicate with eachother, as by a passage 30 in the casing, and oneactuator chamber 21, communicates, as by a passage 3| in the casing,with the tube 26 leading to the inner cell I 3 of the pad It, and saidother actuator chamber 21a communicates, as 4by a passage 3Ia, with theother tube 2| leading to the outer pad cell I4. Air vor'fluid underappropriate pressure is supplied to the valve chambers 28 and 28a from asuitable source of air or fluid under pressure, as by a supply pipe 32which may connect with one of the valve chambers, :as by a nipple orconnection 33. One 'of these nipples is shown at each of the oppositee'nds of the casing 2B, Vand coinmuni'cates ivith the adjacent valvechamber to enable the connection of Vthe supply Pipe 32 at either end ofthe 'casing 26, Whichever may be most conven'ier'1t, and When it isconnected to one nipple, the other'nipple 33 lisclosed, as by a screwcap or stopper 3B- When connected to either nipple; the supply pipe Willcommunicate with both v'alvechambers, since the two chambers are incommunication with eachother through the Passag3 Y n A movable valveelement 35 controls communication of the actuator chamber 21 with thevalve chamber *'28, or with the exhaust chamber 28h through the passage29, and asimilar movable valve element 35a controls communication of theotheractuator chamber 21a with the valve chamber 23a or 'with theexhaust chamber through thev passage 29u. These valve elements areconnected to rn'ove in unison, and in the position thereof shown i'nFigs. 3 and/l, the pressure iiuid will flow from the valve 'chamber 28past the valve through'the actuator chamber 2 1, passage 'JI and tube 2Bvto the vinner pad cell I3, While pressure vfluid 'will Jexhaust' fro'mthe 'other cell I4 through tube 2|, l'passage 3I'a, `Aa'c'ti'iat'orchamber 21a and passage 29u, past 'the valve Ito the exhaust chamber. In'the other position of the valves 35 and 35a,the pressure iiud 'Willpass through the valve chamber 28a, actuator chamber 21a 1and tube ZItothe outer pa'd eell I'4,`vvhile the pressure uid in the inner padlcell i3 can `exhaust through the tube 2(1,vac`tuator chamber 21 andpassage Y29 past the valve 35 to 4the`exhaust'chamber which, as shownisopen tothe -atmosphere throughan opening -31 in a Wall or, the casing26.44 Shifting of the valve elements 35, 35a is controlled by anactuator having pistonfheads 4i) and 4-I at opposite ends ofa-connecting rod 42 and arranged to reciprocate in the-actuator chambers21 and 21a, so as to be moved 4in one'direction by -liuid pressure inthe chamber/1 and `in the opposite cli'- rection by fluid pressure'inthe chamber 21a, when the pressure vin thev chamber 21 or V21a-isincreased to the desired maximum pressure in the pad cell I3 or I4.

Each of the valve elements 35 and 35a, shown, consists of areduced waistportion ifs connecting Yopposite v`spa-ced valve heads 445 and 4S havingfrusto-conica'l faces 'arranged to 'engage complementary valve seat'sa't 'opposite-ends of 'a Seat-:tube 41 th-'rough which the reduced Waistof the valve'eement passes, and one -of which seat tubes 41 is threadedandscrewed into each of the valve'chambers 28 and 28a; 'In the position'of the valves shown'in Figs-3 and 4, the VheadszS-of the two elementswillb'e seated, while theother -liea'ds 46 -of the 'two elements vwillVbe unseated, thus admitting the pressure fluid to the actuator chamber21 and pad cell I3 and connecting the other pad cell I4 and actuatorchamber 21a with the exhaust opening. By

35 and head 45 of element 35a, is made adjustable relatively to theopposite head of the element, as by a screw connection of therhead withthe waist portion or connecting rod of the element. This adjustabilityof the valve heads and the adjustability of the seat tubes, vpermittedby their screw connections with their valve chambers, always ensuresproper seating of the heads of the two elements on their seats inA bothof the two posit-ions of the valve elements.

The valves are shifted to their two different operative positions by theactuator 40-4I, preferably through the medium of suitable springactionconnections which, as shown, are as follows: The connecting rod 42 ofthe actuator is connected by a pin 49 to a lever 50 having a forked armfulcrumed by pins I in the casing 26, on which fulcrum pins 5I are alsofulcrumed the legs of a U-shaped link 52 which is connected to theadjacent ends of the rods 54 of the two valve elements 35 and 35a. Asshown, these rods have bifurcated adjacent ends with slots through whicha cross pin 53 of the link 52 passes, and a tension spring 55 isconnected at opposite ends to the lever 50 and the free end of link 52so that when the actuator lll-4I is moved in one direction, for instanceto the left, asshown in the drawings, by the iiuid pressure in theactuator chamber 21a, the lever 50 will be swung to the left as shown inFig. 3 and carryY the connected end of the spring 55 with it pastA acentral or dead center position and by the pull of the spring, swing thelink 52 also to the left'to shift the valve elements 35 and 35a to thelposi-v tion shown in Fig. 3, and thereby seat the heads i5 of the Valveelements B-E'and 35a and unseat the heads 46 of said elements. Opposite,or right hand, movement of the actuator 40'-4I will swing the lever 5i!to the right and Acarry the connected end of the spring 55 with it,Y andthus Y throw the link 52 to the right so as to shift the valve elements35 and 35a to the right to unseat the heads 45 thereof and move theother heads 46 of the two elements against their seats.

The spring 55 is under tension in either position of the actuator 40-4!and valve elements 35 and 35a and acts to hold the valve elementsagainst their seats, and this `spring has to -be strained to move theactuator Aand valve elements away from either of their rest positionstoward the opposite position. Therefore, the fluid pressure on theactuator 40g-4I required to effect the shifting of the valve elementsfrom one to the other of theirY seated positions can be regulated byadjustingor varying the tension of the spring 55. For thisipurpose,oneend4 of the spring, as shown, passes through ahole in the pin 53-connecting the link 52 and valve rods, and is attached to an anchoringscrew 56 extending through and adjustable endwise in a screw threadedhole in the free end of the link 52. The tension of the spring 55 can beincreased or decreased by appropriate adjustments of this screw, whichmay be secured in adjusted positions by a suitable lock nut 51. Bil-6Irepresent adjustable vstops for limiting the op posite movements of theactuator lill-4I. These stops, which may consist of screws endwiseadjustable in threaded holes in the opposite ends of'thecasin-g 26, maybe set so as to be engaged byone or theL other piston head of theactuator when the valve elements 35, a have been seated in one or theother of their two seated positions, and thus relieve the valve elementsand actuating connections between the same and the actuator from unduepressure or strain.

Since cach of the actuator chambers 21 and 27a; is in free communicationwith its connected cell I3 or I4 of the pad, the pressure will be the.same in -each actuator chamber as in its connected pad cell. Therefore,since the tension o f spring determines the pressure required to shiftthe actuator' and valve elements, the maximum pressure which will becreated in the pad cells can be determined as desired, with in the limitof the pressure supply source, by appropriate adjustment of the tensionof the spring 55. The pressure fluid supply pipe 3'2 may be providedwith a valve 62 of any suitable sort by means of which the volume ofpressure fluid to the pad cells can be regulated to thereby control, asdesired, the frequency of pulsations or iniiations and deiiations of thecells of the pad or applicator element by which the pulsating pressureis applied to the body. The lever 50 of the valve mechanism, as shown,has. an end projecting out of the casing 25 to enable manual shiftingofthe valve elements if necessary for any reason. A valve or control'mechanism constructed as a illustrated in the drawings and abovedescribed provides eiective means for producing uid pressure Apulsationsfor alternately expanding and contracting or iniiating and deating ad-40 jacent cells of an applicator element and ex pandingorinlating onecell while contracting o rj deilecting an adjacent cell, but means ofvarious other constructions could be employed for vproducing similarpulsating action alternately in adjacent cells of an air applicatorelement of the character described, and my invention is'not restrictedto the particular means herein disclosed for the purpose.

When the applicator element Il) is intended to form the seat pad of aparachute pack to be strapped or secured to the person of the user, itis desirable to make the tubes or conduits 20, 2I that lead fro-m thefluid pressure supply or'control mechanism 25 to the seat pad, insections connected by a quick-detachable coupling B5 which will enablequick and easy release of the seat pad from the uid pressure supply orcontrol mechanism in case of emergency.

@The coupling A65 shown for this purpose, see Figi?, comprises separablesections 66, 61. One section-of each tube 20, 2l is suitably fastenedsecurely; with a uid tight joint, as at 68, in one couplinglsection 66,and the other section of each tube 2l), 2 I, is similarly or suitablyfastened, as at 69, to the other coupling section, and one couplingsection may have nipples 'l0 adapted to be'releasably seated in sockets1I in the other coupling section 61 with suitable joint-sealing gaskets'I2 between the parting faces of the two coupling sections. The nipplesand sockets have passages establishing communication between the twosections of each tube 20, 2|. A suitable spring actuated detent orround-nosed plunger 'I3 carried by one coupling section is adapted tospring into a rounded depression or seat in the l'. .Liny apparatus ofthe character descri-lcied-` comprising an element havingadjacent;Yduid.

pressure-confining cells adapted to. support a persons body, each ofsaid cells having-a flexiblev top -Wa-ll,` means i or supplying fluid'vunder pressureV to said cells, and valve mechanism'-admit*-v ting thepressure fluid toA one' cell While exhausts ing it from the adjacentcell thereby*l producing outL of phase fluid pressure pulsations insaidv adjacent cells, and including an actuator-sub ject tc thepressures in said cellsandoperableupon aV predetermined maximum pressurein either one-of said cells -to shift said valvemechanisrn ,toI exhaustpressure iluid from said-one4cell and admitV pressure fluid to the othercell.

2. A fatigue-relieving seat havinga freely flexibleA top wallon which aperson may sit andimrnediately beneath said Walla plurality of`adjacent, closed supporting air cell-means disposed side by side inhorizontal plan, and means for alternately increasing anddecreasing thepress sules Ain the adjacent cell'means, whereby the pressures exertedby said seat may be .shiitedhetween one zone thereof and another,

3. A body supporting device comprisingan elastic element having adjacentfluid pressuresconning cells, each of said cellshavinghawfljexf iblewallfor applying,t pulsating surface pressure toa body when supportedthereon, means for spp -A plyingv fluid undery pressure tosaid cells,valve mechanism admitting the pressure 'luidjo, one cell whileexhausting itfrom the adjacentcell; and including an actuator subject tothe'pires-V sures in said cells and ,operableupona predetere minedmaximum pressurein eitherA onel ofjsaid cells to shift said valvemechanism toiexhaust pressure fluid from said one cell and admitpres;sure fluid to the other cell, and adjustable for controlling theshifting of said valve -mechanisrnso as to be responsive to diierentpressures within saidcell means.

4. ,A body supporting device comprising-n an elastic element 'havingvadjacent fluid. pressureconfining cells, each of said cells havingaflexiblel wall for applying pulsating Y surface, pressure to a` bodywhen supported thereon; mea-naior supplying fluid under pressure to saidcells.shif t-I able valve means for admitting-the -pressureluid tosaidvcells alternately and exhausting-,pressure fluid from one cellwhile admitting -pressureyuid to the other cell, springmeans-opposingtheshifte ing, of said vvalve means, and meansgresponsive.to the yfluid pressures'in saidcells acting toshit said valverneans` inoppositionto said-,- spring means to exhaust pressure fluid from saidone cell whileadmitting pressure uidto the.other cell, and means foradjusting the spring pressure exertedby saidspring means for varyingthe'lld pressures required in` said cells Vtoshift ,said valve means.

i formed-gofr'el-astic', air tight.:V material, said pad hayingfreely:lflexiblenresilient material such as spongefruhber coveringsaid cellmeans above, and`-.supply,and`exhaust conduits opening into said-fadjacent'. cell: means whereby the support Llpressuresmay be:A atleastpartly shifted from cell'means toV cellzmeansby alternatelyrelieving and applying air pressure inV out-of-phase relation inzsad'iadjacent ycell vmeans to reciprocally shiftytheizonesof .pressuresapplied by said pad.

6:' A fatigue-relieving.support pad compri-singa-relatively-broad'shallow sack` having partitions therein form-ing aplurality of adjacent fluid pressurevconninge cell means disposed sideby side--inahorizontal plane, and said pad having freely-flexibleresilient material such as sponge rubbencoveringsaid-sack above, saidsacl: with the partitions and cell means thereof being formedlbya singleintegral body oi rubber-like material', and-conduits opening into saidadjacentcell means whereby-the support pressures of thapadwnay be atleast partly shifted reciprocallyirorncell means to cell means byalternately relieving and0 applying -uidpressure inout-ofphase-relation, in said adjacent cell means.

7': A cushion for supporting aperson thereon, -saidecushion including aplurality of laterally adjacentY luidpressureeconning elongated cellmeanshaving flexible top walls formed of elastic uid-,tightf-material,meansr for selectively applyingl fluid'under pressure tosaid cell meansand for-exhausting Viiuid therefrom including mechanisin admittingpressure fluidsto one cell means while, exhaustingV1 it from the nextadjacent cell means'thereby producing reciprocal iluidpressurepulsations in 4adjacently disposed cell means, andaresilient padformed of exible material such as'sponge rubberoverlying said cell meansfor, diffusing vthe pressure variation eiects thereotp.

8'; seat padhaving adjacent fluid pressurecillilrlngE cells, whichhaveilexible top walls and are substantially, U-shape in planandarranged one Within the other, and means4 for alternately increasingand decreasing the pressures in the adjacent cellsthereloy` producingreciprocal fluid pressure pulsations in said cells.

DON-ALD V. SUMMERVILLE.

REFERENCES" CITED Tlieollojvingreferences are of record in the leqcfthisiraient;l

UNITED, STATES PATENTS

